As 6-foot-11 Mali native Bakary Konate was trying to sound out his name for reporters Tuesday at Gophers media day, fellow freshman Josh Martin laughed.

Martin thought it was funny because some people initially call his new teammate “Bakery.”

“Everybody asks him,” Martin said. “I know his name is not easy to say.”

The correct pronunciations are Buh-CAR-ee CO-not, and Gophers fans should start practicing because Konate and several other Gophers newcomers figure to play key roles for coach Richard Pitino’s team this season.

Pitino’s second recruiting class is relatively unheralded, but the coach is excited by its potential to immediately inject the 2014-15 team with length, athleticism and defense.

“That’s going to get them on the court early,” Pitino said. “Nate Mason could be one of the best defenders on the team. Carlos Morris, if he applies himself, could be one of the best defenders on the team. Bakary is a great shot blocker. Josh Martin has the ability to be a great defensive rebounder, shot blocker.”

Not since former coach Tubby Smith’s nationally ranked 2008 recruiting class have there been this many newcomers who could make an immediate impact — even with transfer Zach Lofton sitting out under NCAA rules.

“I just think the energy that those guys bring is great,” Pitino said.

Morris, a 6-5 junior college transfer, is “neck and neck” with sophomore Daquein McNeil for the starting swingman spot, Pitino said Tuesday.

“He wants to start, too,” said Morris, who has gained nearly 20 pounds since coming to campus. “The competition has been great. We expected it. It’s what we’re here for.”

Konate and Martin are the team’s two most athletic frontcourt players and already have wowed teammates with their dunks and blocks in practice. Martin threw down a windmill slam off an alley-oop pass Tuesday and once caught one from Pitino off the bounce after a workout this fall.

“The dunks come with the effort; that’s really all it is,” said Martin (6-8, 230 pounds). “Coach wasn’t expecting me to catch it, but he just threw it off the ground and I went up and dunked it kind of hard. He chuckled a little bit.”

Although he’s the smallest of the newcomers, the Gophers believe Mason, a 6-1 point guard, is the most ready of the freshmen.

“You find that, I think, a lot with guards; they’re normally ready to go right away, as opposed to the bigs,” Pitino said. “It takes a little longer. But what’s great for Josh and Bakary is they’ve got guys ahead of them who are a little older and can teach them.”

Mason is learning from veterans, too. Senior guards DeAndre Mathieu and Andre Hollins, newly named captains, have been mentors since summer.

“I tried to come in and compete to the best of my ability to better the team,” Mason said. “I’m trying to be the best team player. It’s not a role, but it’s kind of my goal. I want to do whatever I can to help this team win.”

Six years ago, the Gophers had a top 20 recruiting class of Devoe Joseph, Ralph Sampson III, Colton Iverson, Paul Carter and Devron Bostick, Smith’s first full recruiting class at Minnesota. It added enough depth to help the program get back to the NCAA tournament in 2009.

Pitino put together last year’s class on the fly after being hired in April, so he had more time this offseason to find the right players to fill areas of need. That meant even going international.

Gaston Diedhiou, a forward from Senegal, was expected to add an inside presence after signing in the spring but wasn’t admitted this fall after failing to pass the school’s English proficiency exam. He could join the team for the second semester.

Konate, who played for club teams in Spain before first coming to the U.S. last year, was unable to accept an offer to play for Pitino’s dad, Rick, at Louisville because of his test scores.

He also wasn’t with the Gophers this summer because he needed a qualifying SAT and English entrance test score. The wait was frustrating, Konate said, but he’s having so much fun now, he doesn’t care if his teammates laugh at how people screw up his name.

“I can’t say anything bad about that,” Konate said with a laugh. “They are helping me learn the game and get prepared to play a little bit this year.”

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